Cardboard-box fastener



Sept 23, T930. F. R. KINKENON 1,776,628

CARDBOARD BOX FA'STENER Filed 0G13. l5, 1927 `Patented Sept. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK R. KHVKENON, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T BAKERIES SERV- ICE CORPORATION, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE CARCDBOARD-BOX FASTENER Application led October 15, 1927. Serial No. 226,488.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cardboard box fasteners, and an important object of the invention resides inthe provision of fastening means for retaining the cover of the box in a closed position Without the aid of extraneous fastening means, such as string, adhesives, metallic fasteners, andv the like; the fastening y means being formed in the box itself.-

Another important object of the invention residesin the provision of fastening means of thel above type Which is automatically rendered operative by the mere closing of the cover or closure, and which will notw accidentally become unfastened during handling or transportation, and yet may be unfastened Without destruction of the fastener so that 1t can be subsequently used.

A further important objectV of the invention resides in making the fastening means conform to a symbol. or emblem, so that not only will the fastener be automatically rendered Aoperative upon closing of the cover, but quite as important, Will set the emblem or symbol off in relief to accentuate its appearanceon the container.

Other objects and advantages of the 1nvention Will become ap arent during the course of the following escription.

In the accompanyingr drawing` formin part of the application:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the invention illustrating the fastener in an operative or locked condition. f

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same container withl the cover partially open and the fastener in an inoperative position.

Figure 3 is a top plan of the container with its cover closed andthe fastener in an operative position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the container illustrating the fastener means in an operative position.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawing, Whereinfor the purpose ofillustration I have shown the embodiment of the invention Which is at 'present preferred, the numeral 5 designating av container Which may be of any desired shape or construction so farv as the container itself is concerned, but vvhich,

in the present instance, is ldisclosed as a substantlally rectangular flat cardboard collaps.

ible box adapter for any use desired, although, its present use is contemplated as a container for cake to-be vended.

This container is a folded blank box, and

ing continuations of the Walls 7 and 8 respectively, and .adapted to be interengaged by al tongue and slit connection, indicated in general by the numeral 11 to constitute end Walls. A cover 12 for the container is a continuation of the rear Wall 8, and is provided With depending side flaps 13 and an extension flap 14 formed by folding down the front portion of the cover along a crease 15 paralleling the forward free edge of the extension flap 14: The flaps 13 and 14 are preferably the same height as the front and side .Walls of the container, so that When the cover is closed, these flaps Will engage the bottom 6 of the container to rigidify the box.

My improved fastening means comprises, in part, `a locking tongue 16, which is attached to the cover along the fold or crease line 15. In the present instance, this is accomplished by .striking or punching out the tongue 16 from the cover extension 14, and terminating the struck out portion at the fold or crease line 15 to provide the tongue With a relatively narrow body portion, and

tainer, and a V-shaped slit 19. This slit19 possesses its particular shape for.two reasons; first, it facilitates the insertion of the heart-shaped head '17 into the slit, and, secondly, it coincides with the upper ortion of a heart-shaped symbol or emblem orming a trade mark or a part` thereof, which is associated With the container in any suitable manner, as by printing directly upon the front wall 7 or by pasting a label containing the symbol or emblem onto the exterior surface of the front wall. The other words ap-` pearing on the front wall 7 of the container form a part of the trade mark or label.

It will be noted that the slit 19 in the front wall of the container provides the same with a more yielding or flexible portion 21 located between the upper edge of the wall 7 and the slit 19 for a purpose which will be presently described. It will also be noted that'the width of the head 17 is substantially the same as the length of the slit 19, whereas the body portion of the tongue 16 is lof less width, and, consequently, does not entirely cover the flexible portion 21 of the front wall when the-head is inserted into the slit and the fastener is closed. i

As the cover -12 of the box or container is closed, the flaps 13, 14 are tucked into the box, and the head ofthe tongue is guided downwardly'along the exterior face of the front wall 7 on the flexible portion 21, and is pressed inwardly 'so as to fiex the portion 21 of the wall in the same direction, and automatically open or offset the edges of the slit 19 so that upon further downward movement of the cover, the head of the tongue will move entirely into the slit and be disposed behind the portion of the front wall containing the heart-shaped emblem 20. This may all be accomplished with one hand.

As shown in Figure 3, only the intermediate part of the iiexible portion 21 of the front Wall is compressed by the inherent tendency of the portion of the wall below the slit to assume its normal position in the same plane as the front wall,y when the tongue 16 is disposed behind the emblem 20. This will result in maintainingr only a portion of thelength of the edges of the slit 19 in offset relation or different vertical planes, as seen best in Figure 3, and theedges of the slit 19 at the ends thereof will be substantially in the same plane sothat the-upper edge of the slit at the ends thereof forms an 'abutment for the shoulder 18 of the heart-shaped tongue to prevent its accidental withdrawal from the slit. When it is desired to open the container, the portions of the fiexible part 21 of the front wall at opposite sides of the narrow body of they tongue 16, may be pressed inwardly while the lower ed'ge of the slit 19may be moved outwardly so as to permit the withdrawal of the heart-shaped head 17 of the slit ywithout destroying the will be pushed outwardly of the plane of the adjacent portions of the front wall so as to set the emblem off in relief and to emphasize its presence on the container.

It is to be understood that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A closure comprising a receiving member having associated therewith a symbol and provided with a slit conformin to a part of the Configuration of said Sym Jol, a cooperating tongue member adapted to be inserted through said slit and to be disposed bel'ild said symbol to set the same off in rc- 2. A closure comprising a receiving meniber having associated therewith a symbol and provided with a slit conforming to a part of the configuration of said symbol, a cooperating member having a tongue provided with an enlarged head adapted to be inserted through said slit and to be disposed behind said symbol to set the same off in relief with a portion of said tongue arranged beyond said symbol.

3. A closure comprising a receiving meniber having associated therewith a heartshaped symbol and being provided with a substantially retuse slit coinciding with a portion of said symbol, and a cooperating member having a tongue provided with a pendant heart-shaped head adapted to be inserted through said slit and to'be disposed behind said symbol to set the same olf in relief.

4. A container of the class described including a wall and a cover..lhaving a crease defining an extension iap adapted to be inserted into the container behind said wall to engage the bottom of the container and rigidify the same when the cover is closed. said wall having a slit substantially paralleling the edge of the Wall and provided with a flexible portion between said slit and said edge, said extension fiap having a tongue extending substantially from said crease and having a relatively narrow body of substantially less width than the length of said slit, said tongue having an enlarged tapered head to provide a. shoulder, said tongue being insertablc from the exterior of the container into said slit to dispose the relatively narrow body of the tongue over said flexible portion of the wall to offset the ed es of said slit for abutment with said shoul er.

5. Acontainer of the class described including a wall and a cover having a crease defining an extension fiap adapted'to be inserted into the container behind said wall when the cover is closed, said wail having a substantially V-shapedslit having its ends spaced equi-distant froml the edge of said` wall and providing it with a flexible portion between said slit and said edge, said extension edges o ilap having a struck out tongue extended from vsaid crease and having a relatively narrow body of substantially less width than the length of said slit, said tongue having a tapered head wider vthan said b'odto provide the same with spaced shoul ers, said head being substantially as wide as said slit is long and tapering in the same direction as said V-sha ed slit for insertion therein from the exterlor of said container to dispose the relativel narrow tongue body over said flexible ortion of the wall, and to offset the 'said slit for abutment with said shoulders.

6. A containervof the class described, including a wall and a cover havin a crease defining an extension flap adapte to be inserted into the container behlnd said wallv when the cover is closed, said wall having a substantially retuse slit substantially paralleling the edge of said wall and providing it with a flexible l'portion between said slit and said edge, said extension flap having a struck 4 out tongue extended from said crease and having a relativel narrow body of substantially less width t an the length of said slit,

said tongue having a pendant heart-shaped head wider than said body to provide the same with spaced shoulders, said head bein substantially as wide as said slit is long or insertion therein from the exterior of said con.- tainer to dispose the relatively narrow tongue body oversaid llexible portlon of the wall, and to offset the edges of said slit for abutment with said shoulders.

7. A closure for a container comprising a receiving member having associated therewith a symbol and rovided with a slit con forming to a part o the configuration of said symbol, and a cooperatingstonguemember havin a configuration su tantially correspondmg to said symbol and adapted to be inserted through said slit-and to be disposed lbelind said symbol lto set the same oi 1n re- I1'1' testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y FRANK R.- KINKENON. 

